Wow! What a day!

As we all are likely aware, the attempt pass anti-discrimination including gays and lesbians in the West Virginia legislature has stalled. Senate Bill 238 pass the WV Senate, yet didn’t make it out of Committee in the House. Reasons for this are relatively unknown, but we suspect that it didn’t garner the support that it needed. As frustrated as well are, we’re going to keep on trying. We’ve got to.

One thing to keep in mind is this. The Legislature successfully defeated a proposed amendment to the WV constitution that would ban the possibility of gay marriage. This is a BIG deal. BIG.  We all know that marriage equality is the right thing to do and that it will come eventually. There will be many battles, but the war is over. The other side knows this.

Now, do not become complacent. The battles are just as important. These are people’s lives and livelihood at stake here. We must keep pushing. Together we will succeed.

Join us.

Be advised.

KSD will hold a Board Meeting at 6:00pm on Sunday, April 5th at 501 Elizabeth St (rear entrance) in Charleston. All members are welcome to attend.

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In a move that might almost seem shocking to the rest of the country (stereotypes be damned), the West Virginia House voted 67-30!

Earlier this month, the resolution stalled in a house committee and the Family Policy Council of West Virginia paid for a telemarketing campaign that some West Virginia Democratic lawmakers said was designed to “intimidate” them. But that effort failed to move the bill, so last week they pressed GOP lawmakers for action and that prompted Republican delegates to move by to force it to the full House.

Tim Armstead, Kanawha(R), was quoted in this WHCS article with a rather ridiculous comment.

“30 other states have passed amendments to their constitution to protect their definition of marriage,” said Armstead. “We should be in that majority and I can’t explain why we’re not.”

Armstead. You know why we’re not in the majority? It is because the House feels that this is completely unnecessary and a complete waste of tax-payer money.  It is both.

Last week, Senators McCabe, Palumbo, Kessler, Snyder, Foster, Wells, introduced Senate Bill 238 that will add sexual orientation the state Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act. It is summarized as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to add “sexual orientation” to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act prohibiting discrimination in employment and places of public accommodations. This bill also provides clarification as to an exemption from the “sexual orientation” employment-based proscriptions of this bill for “religious institutions” and offers, for the purposes of this article, a definition thereof. This bill also adds “age” and “sexual orientation” to the categories covered by the Fair Housing Act prohibiting discrimination in housing. It defines “sexual orientation” as “heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity, whether actual or perceived.”

Nothing is more important than extending legal protections to LGBT West Virginians. Other groups are trying to change the topic in the state legislature by relying on out of state groups to fund ‘protect marriage’ campaigns, even going so far as to call us ’snipers’  We all know this attempt is nothing but a distraction and that a special election to add a ban on gay marriage to the state constitution is a complete waste of time and money. 

How you can help

1) Thank Senators McCabe, Palumbo, Kessler, Snyder, Foster and Wells for introducing this bill. Second, contact your senators. 

2) Contact your senators

• Find your ZIP+4 code http://zip4.usps.com/
• Lookup your local senators here
• Call & Write them!
• Let us know of your work here

the stonewall democrats is the only national organization for lgbt and lgbt-friendly democrats.  kanawha stonewall democrats was organized in 2008 to give our community a voice in our future, here in west virginia, now. we need your involvement as we prepare for the 2009 legislative session.

while the defeat of prop 8 was a smack in the face to our community, from coast to coast, we have our own battles to fight.  over the last few years we have made progress toward passage of a non-discrimination bill and we need to push harder this session to make this law for all of west virginia. at the same time, our opponents are pushing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. 

we need your help now.  contact speaker of the house of delegates richard thompson. tell him you support non-discrimination legislation in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and that your oppose any bills aimed at establishing a special election banning gay marriage. 

Speaker of the House Richard Thompson

Room 234M, Building 1 

State Capitol Complex 

Charleston WV  25305 

Speaker.Thompson@verizon.net

Rally in Charleston!

3pm Today!

UMWA Lawn at corner of Morris & Kanawha Boulevard

The Obama-Biden campaign has a rally scheduled on the lawn of the
UMWA office in Charleston at 3 PM. The rally is to counter the
appearance of Gov. Palin in the Tri-State region. We need your
participation. The union office is on the corner of Brooks and Kanawha
Blvd

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!

Stop the Hate / Start the Healing Event
Thursday, October 16, 2008
5:30-7:00 P.M.
Davis Park, Capitol Street, Charleston

People of faith standing up to hate violence,
speaking out when people are attacked based on
race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender or disability

For more information please contact: Susan Allen (304) 346-4402
Sponsored by the West Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Stop the Hate Committee

Raffle!
9″ X 12″ “Democrat Donkey” Mosaic.
Handmade by Charleston East End resident, S. Mathis.
$5 per ticket or $20 for five tickets! Save $5!

Tickets are available by sending us a message here, emailing contact@kanawhastonewalldemocrats.org or calling (304) 932-0074

Winner will be announced during the Jefferson Jackson Dinner this Saturday, Sept 20th. If not present, the winner will be contacted by phone.

is hosting a Woman’s Canvass at the Campaign for Change Headquarters at 247 Capitol St (Corner of Lee & Capitol) on Wednesday September 17th at 5:00pm.

If you’re on Facebook, signup for the event and pass the word along.
For more information about this event, please contact WVWomenForObama@yahoo.com or